Volkswagen has two new vehicles, the Passat TDI and the
Touareg TDI. As you can tell by the ``TDI,'' they're diesels,
and, while they join the existing Golf and Jetta TDI models,
the new Passat and Touareg models feature some new and very
innovative technology that helps make them clean, powerful, and
economical.

The Passat is already a major success for Volkswagen, and
the new TDI models will further that, adding a choice for
people interested in excellent fuel economy with space and
power for everyday and long-distance use. And distance is a
definite possibility - according to Volkswagen, it can go up to
623 miles on a tank of fuel. The Touareg sport-utility has
established VW as a presence in the SUV market, with
versatility, capability, and comfort in a large, but not
too-large, package. The Touareg TDI, to be available in limited
numbers, slots in at the top of the Touareg range by virtue of
its strength. With 310 horsepower and a massive 553 lb-ft of
torque, it's one of the most capable large sport-utilities
made. Yet it is rated at 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway,
considerably better than any similarly-sized SUV.

Both TDI models share some innovations that helps them run
cleanly and efficiently. Volkswagen is already the largest
passenger diesel producer and a diesel technology leader with
the TDI engine. ``TDI'' stands for Turbo Direct Injection,
meaning that not only is the engine's intake air compressed by
a turbocharger for greater efficiency, the fuel is injected
separately and directly into each cylinder at the appropriate
time, not into the intake manifold as in a gasoline engine.
Sophisticated mechanical and electronic systems control the
amount and timing of each fuel charge for maximum power output
with minimum emissions. But direct injection as done by
previous TDI engines has been improved upon with the new
engines. They use ``Pumpe D_use'' (PD)
technology developed in conjunction with Bosch Corporation.
Translated to English, this means ``unit injectors'' - the
injection pump, controls, and injector for each cylinder are in
one unit, and there is one unit injector per cylinder. The
injection pumps are driven off the camshaft. The design is
extremely compact and precise. Fuel efficiency is related to
the degree of atomization of the fuel before combustion. The
higher the pressure of injection, the smaller the droplets of
fuel, and the more complete the combustion - leading to
increased power and decreased emissions. Early diesels, in the
1930s, injected fuel at 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi). The
PD injectors inject fuel at over 29,000 psi.

The Passat TDI will be offered in both sedan and wagon body
styles. Other than the PD injection system, the four-cylinder,
2.0-liter engine is fairly conventional, with a cast-iron block
and cross-flow single overhead camshaft eight-valve head made
of aluminum alloy. It is rated at 134 horsepower at 4,000 rpm,
with 247 lb-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm, and can be matched to a
six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
Front-wheel drive GL and GLS trim levels will be available in
both body styles. EPA fuel economy ratings are 27 mpg city, 38
mpg highway. Pricing, at $23,060 for the sedan and $24,060 for
the wagon, is only $205 over a comparably-equipped gasoline
model.

At $57,800, the Touareg TDI is a premium model. Only around
400 examples are expected to be imported this year, so they
will be rare. The engine is a 5.0-liter V10. Unusually for a
diesel, its block is made of aluminum, for lightness. It is a
fine example of efficient power. Twin intercooled turbos, one
for each cylinder bank, and the PD system help it make over one
horsepower per cubic inch - 310 hp at 3,750 rpm to be exact -
and a very impressive 553 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. In
output, it compares favorable with some truck V8s a liter or
more larger in displacement, and much heavier. All four wheels
are driven through the 4XMOTION (tm) dual-range full-time
four-wheel drive system, and shifting is via a Tiptronic (r)
manual-mode equipped six-speed automatic transmission. As
mentioned in passing, EPA fuel economy is 17 mpg city, 23 mpg
highway - ten better than some similarly-sized gasoline
SUVs.

Numbers are nice, but how do the new VW diesels work in the
real world? Quite well, thank you. Volkswagen recently
previewed them to the press in Reston, Virginia, just outside
of Washington DC. At the event, I spent one day in both Passat
TDI models and one day in a Touareg TDI. Impressions? Glad you
asked.

First, the Passat TDI, as it will be the most common. I had
driven a European-spec sedan a few months before at Challenge
Bibendum, held on the hills of Infineon (nee Sears Point)
Raceway. It seemed more than adequately powerful, coping well
with the steep hill from Turn 1 to Turn 2, but five miles is
not enough to get more than a very brief impression. 250 miles
through northwestern Virginia, and parts of West Virginia and
Maryland on both scenic back roads an major highways showed
both versions of the Passat TDI to be impressive performers.
Although a quiet diesel sound can be discerned from outside the
car when it is running, it's not an overpowering clatter.
Inside, there is an unusual and distinctive exhaust note
audible, but it is not particularly loud, and not at all
unpleasant. Interior noise levels are equal to those of other
Passats, pleasantly quiet if not quite expensive luxury-car
quiet. Ride and handling, again, are the same as as other
Passats - very good for a mid-sized, mid-priced family sedan or
wagon. The TDI does not have the performance of the Passat V6
or W8, but it is quick enough for the real world, and has
better acceleration than any current hybrid. Zero-to-sixty is
given as 10.2 seconds for the sedan and 10.4 for the wagon.
Both are a little sluggish right off the line, but once revs
hit the torque peak at 2000 rpm, it moves very quickly.
Checking the trip computer during my drive showed almost 33 mpg
average fuel economy, not bad at all as I was not driving in
light-footed economy mode at all. For almost anyone looking for
the space and comfort of a mid-sized sedan or wagon, and with a
desire for fuel economy, the Passat TDI is an excellent
choice.

If the Passat TDI was designed for economy over speed, the
Touareg TDI was meant for power and economy. You can't argue
with 553 lb-ft of torque, and you will be reminded of that
every time you step on the (drive-by-wire) throttle. The
traction control light comes on all too easily, this beast has
serious torque and can go from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.5
seconds. It is also remarkably smooth, quiet, and refined. No
diesel clatter is audible from inside, and only a subdued sound
outside. The ride is smooth and comfortable on well-paved
roads, and, because, like all Touaregs, it has four-wheel
independent suspension and unibody construction, poor pavement
and four-wheel drive trails don't faze it a bit. (And, yes,
there was a short 4-low mud section in the Blue Ridge
Mountains.) With the adjustable air springs, ground clearance
can be varied from 8.7 to 11.8 inches. Towing capacity is 7,716
lbs. (3500 kg.) This is a luxury SUV that has no problem
getting seriously dirty, working hard, or driving long
distances on any sort of road. The interior appointment level
is at the top of the Touareg range, meaning that it features
the clean design that is a Volkswagen hallmark, and has plenty
of room and a versatile interior.

There is only one drawback to both TDI models, and that
applies only if you live in California or the other four states
that use California emissions requirements. In those five
states, you're out of luck until low-sulfur diesel fuel is
available, probably sometime in 2006 or 2007. Diesels have
lower carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines, but their
particulate and nitrogen emissions are higher. The TDI-PD
engines meet current European, Canadian, and 45-state American
requirements with no problems at all, and should meet the
stricter '07 and California regulations with the introduction
of reformulated diesel fuel. If you are in the rest of the
country and looking for a combination of space, power, and
efficiency, take a look at Volkswagen's new diesels.

Offer Maximum Fuel-Efficiency Strength A pioneer in
automotive diesel technology, Volkswagen has historically
remained the best-selling choice of drivers who prefer a modern
diesel engine with advanced efficiency and performance. Just in
time for soaring prices at the fuel pump, Volkswagen of
America, Inc. introduces two new products to its diesel engine
lineup— the 2004 Touareg V10 TDI and the 2004 Passat TDI.

The highly anticipated V10 TDI represents the ultimate
extension of the modern direct injection diesel. The muscular
10-cylinder is among the strongest available in any vehicle on
the road today. The four-cylinder 2.0L TDI in the Passat
represents a major proliferation of high-tech diesels achieving
the greatest EPA fuel efficiency rating of any midsize family
car sold in the U.S.

Pumpe Düse Helping put to rest the bleak images of tailpipe
smoke and noise, Volkswagen’s TDI diesel engines are extremely
high-tech, much cleaner and a major departure from what many
consumers may remember about old diesel engines. The modern
Volkswagen TDI engine is exceptionally efficient and performs
smoothly, due in large part to its advanced electronic
fuel-injection system that is completely “drive-by-wire”—from
the foot pedal to the fuel delivery in the cylinders.

At the heart of the new-generation Volkswagen TDI engine is
advanced “Pumpe Düse” technology, as it is called in Germany,
or “unit injectors” as translated in the U.S. Developed in
combination with Bosch®, these unit injectors are located at
each cylinder to deliver the fuel for combustion. Because of
exacting electronic control, the new Pumpe Düse technology
creates a very high fuel pressure and better atomizes and
precisely meters the fuel injection into the cylinders,
resulting in increased engine efficiency and power, as well as
quieter engine operation and optimized fuel economy.

Touareg V10 TDI The Volkswagen Touareg is already an
award-winner and leader in its class: 2004’s Motor Trend’s
“Sport/Utility of the Year”; MotorWeek’s “Drivers’ Choice ‘Best
of the Year’ and ‘Best Mid-size SUV’”; Petersen 4Wheel &
Off-Road’s “4X4 of the Year”; and Car and Driver’s “5Best
Trucks: Luxury Sport-Utility Vehicle.” All these accolades came
before the newest and most powerful version.

As with all Touareg models, the interior is spacious, with
comfortable seating for five passengers and room for plenty of
cargo. Interior passenger volume is 99 cubic feet and cargo
volume is 31 cu. ft., increasing to 71 cu. ft. with the rear
seats folded.

As the saying goes, there’s no replacement for displacement,
and the V10 offers five liters in 10 cylinders with twin
turbochargers (“biturbo”). The Touareg V10 TDI exhibits the
ultimate in tractive force and pulling power. Rated at 310
horsepower at 3,750 revolutions per minute and a maximum torque
of 553 lbs. ft. at 2,000 rpm, towing capacity is 7,716 lbs.,
making this Touareg among the strongest SUVs on the road in its
class. It is also one of the fastest diesel SUVs in history,
achieving 0-60 miles per hour in just 7.5 seconds and a top
speed of 130 mph.

Pleasantly, the Touareg V10 TDI achieves an EPA fuel
efficiency rating of 23 miles per gallon on the highway and 17
mpg in the city. It also achieves current exhaust emission
performance limits in Europe and 45 states in the U.S.

These impressive performance numbers are accomplished
without excessive size, weight or operating noise. Unlike
common diesel engines with grey cast iron crankcases and
cylinder blocks, the V10 TDI is made with a particularly rigid
aluminum crankcase and an innovative grey cast iron bearing
tunnel into which combustion forces are introduced directly by
way of the cylinder head studs.

The weight-saving aluminum cylinder block enables another
important new technology to be introduced—plasma coating of the
cylinder walls. This process, developed by Volkswagen and used
here for the first time on a production diesel engine, creates
a surface layer in the cylinders with a thickness of a few
tenths of a millimeter—a few thousandths of an inch—and makes
the cylinder walls permanently resistant to deformation and
wear.

The “V” arrangement of two rows of five cylinders each
allows placement of the main auxiliaries, including the water
pump and water-cooled alternator, within the pattern and to be
driven by shaft without development of lateral forces.
Cross-flow cylinder heads with unit injector fuel supply and
two valves per cylinder accommodate placement of the intake
pipes within the “V” as well, for further space
optimization.

Engine oscillation caused by moving masses is limited to
only a few thousandths of a millimeter—a few hundred
thousandths of an inch—an operating smoothness that not even
many 12-cylinder engines achieve. A balance shaft that rotates
at the same speed but in the opposite direction as the
crankshaft, along with the usual counterweights on the
crankshaft webs, suppresses first-order free inertial moments.
A 90-degree cylinder bank and offset crankshaft-throws reduce
second-order free moments of inertia. Vibration under load is
smoothed by the uniform ignition spacing of 72 degrees between
the cylinders, which is achieved by offsetting the crankpins 18
degrees.

A torsional vibration damper on the crankshaft is of a
viscous pattern and occupies a space only 24 millimeters—less
than an inch—deep. Adding to the compact engine design is a
helical-cut spur gear train at the flywheel, replacing the
typical timing chain or toothed belt. Keeping everything
adequately lubricated is a duplex oil delivery pump and two
scavenger pumps that operate reliably even at the extreme
angles sometimes encountered during off-road maneuvers.

The new V10 TDI engine owes its lead in the mixture
formation, combustion and power-output areas to leading-edge
fuel-injection technology, forced aspiration, exhaust gas
recirculation and advanced engine management. In addition to
the latest unit injector system mentioned before, the fuel
supply with five-hole injector nozzles delivers the fuel to the
combustion chambers at pressures up to 29,733
pound-force/square inch (PSI). This pressure is a key to the
engine’s efficiency and cleanliness and represents a much
greater force than what is possible in a common rail
system.

Twin turbochargers—one for each cylinder bank in the
“biturbo” principle—supply ample combustion air. The turbine
blades are actuated electrically versus pneumatically for more
accurate control of blade movement. A charge-air intercooler
and intercoolers in the exhaust gas recirculation lines
increase efficiency. Inasmuch as the V10 TDI can be regarded as
two five-cylinder units coupled together mechanically but with
separate air intake and exhaust systems, the two units are
jointly controlled by interconnected electronic diesel-engine
management systems of the latest type and supplied by
Bosch.

Development of engines with higher levels than ever of power
and torque presents a considerable challenge in terms of
converting it for transfer to the wheels. Thus a new six-speed
automatic transmission with Tiptronic® manual gear-select
ability provides gear ratios that more closely match engine
characteristics for more vigorous throttle response. Fuel
consumption is also reduced at this power transfer, helped by a
hydrodynamic torque converter with lock-up that eliminates
power-transfer loss.

The Volkswagen 4XMOTION™ permanent four-wheel drive system
with low-range gear and adaptive torque distribution
electronically controls the amount of torque transfer between
the front and rear wheels.

A durable independent double wishbone suspension up front
and an independent four-link suspension in the rear incorporate
a four-corner, air adjustable suspension system. With six
adjustable ride heights and Continuous Damping Control with
three adjustable damping settings, a selectable response is
available for differing road conditions. Variable ground
clearance ranges from a road-hugging 6.3 inches to a
stump-jumping 11.8 in. At the extreme are approach and
departure angles of 33 degrees, a fording depth of 22.8-in.,
and 45-degree hill ascent and descent capability.

The list of performance-enhancing standard equipment on the
Touareg V10 TDI includes Electronic Stabilization Program®
(ESP) with brake assist, Hill Descent and Climb Assist;
four-wheel ABS with power-assisted vented disc brakes; 18-in.
alloy wheels; and all-season, snow chain-compatible tires. A
four-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated
controls for convenient operation of audio, cruise control and
onboard computers is also standard and helps keep drivers’
hands where they should be—on the steering wheel.

Interior trim of chrome, brushed aluminum and genuine burled
walnut wood and glove-like leather seating surfaces provide an
atmosphere of understated elegance. Front seats are 12-way
power adjustable, heatable, fully reclining, with lumbar
support and driver’s seat memory function. Rear seats are
heatable as part of the Winter Package, which also includes
heatable steering wheel and a ski bag.

Acoustic characteristics inside the Touareg are on par with
many luxury sedans. The vehicle body has excellent acoustic
restraint as a result of selective reinforcement of the panel
surfaces and the use of highly efficient aluminum “sandwich”
designs for damping. A three-part door seal helps shield the
interior and passengers from undesirable driving and wind
noise.

For added safety, standard equipment on the Touareg V10 TDI
includes driver and front passenger front and side supplemental
restraint air bags. Side Curtain Protection™, an air bag system
that deploys from the roof lining to cover the entire side
glass area to better protect both front and rear passengers, is
also standard equipment. When any of these airbags deploy, a
series of protective measures occurs instantly: all doors
automatically unlock, the battery terminal is disconnected from
the alternator cable, the fuel supply is switched off, warning
lights are automatically switched on and all high-power
electrical components are switched off by a load management
system.

The 2004 Touareg V10 TDI has a starting MSRP of $57,800.

Passat TDI The Volkswagen Passat has long been the most
popular and most affordable German-built midsize family car
sold in the U.S. The addition in 2004 of the Passat TDI sedan
and wagon is sure to expand its significance even more.

The 2.0-liter TDI engine in the front-wheel-drive Passat
incorporates the new unit injector technology found in the
Touareg V10 TDI. The sophisticated four-cylinder, Motronic™
sequential multi-point direct-injection diesel engine with
turbocharger and intercooler is enhanced by the Pumpe Düse
technology and drive-by-wire fuel injection system. With a peak
134 hp at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 247 lbs. ft. at just
1,900 rpm, the 2.0-liter TDI engine mated to the
standard-equipment five-speed automatic transmission moves both
the Passat TDI sedan and wagon from 0-60 mph in just 10.4
seconds and to a top speed of 124 mph.

Volkswagen in Europe has proven just how clean high tech
TDIs can get as the U.S. diesel fuel standards become more
environmentally friendly. A particulate filter developed by
Volkswagen for European applications may qualify the Passat TDI
to meet 2007 U.S. EPA Tier 2, BIN 5 requirements as well as the
California LEV II Program, Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) emission
standards.

Using U.S. EPA fuel efficiency ratings of 38 mpg highway and
27 mpg city, the Passat TDI sedan and wagon have a
best-in-class driving range. With a standard 16.4-gallon fuel
tank, the range is 623 miles—enough to go from Detroit to
Washington, D.C. on a single fill-up and still leave fuel in
the tank for sight-seeing. Seating for five adults in up to 98
cu. ft. of passenger volume, plus 39 cu. ft. of cargo volume or
up to 56.5 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded in the wagon,
means plenty of friends and stuff can go along for the
ride.

Amazingly, with all of this and its high-tech and
fuel-efficient engine, the 2004 Passat 2.0L TDI sedan is priced
at a MSRP of $23,060; the wagon at $24,060. Both prices
represent a premium of just $205 over a comparable
gasoline-engine model.

Volkswagen and Automotive Diesels The leader in direct
injection diesel technology since 1996, Volkswagen cements its
standing with TDI and the new Pumpe Düse unit injector
technology, now available in the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg V10
TDI and Passat TDI sedan and wagon, as well as the Volkswagen
New Beetle, Golf and Jetta models.

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